Chinese hack into India’s defence documents: US. China denies

PTI

US Reprts, April 05: Major Indian missile and armament systems may have been compromised as Chinese hackers have reportedly broken into top secret files of the Indian Defence Ministry and embassies around the world.

 

Among the systems leaked out could be Shakti, the just introduced advanced artillery combat and control system of the Indian Army and the country’s new mobile missile defence system called the Iron Dome.

A new report called ’Shadow in the Clouds’ by Canadian and American researchers based at the University of Toronto has said that a spy operation called ’Shadow Network’ based out of China has tapped into top secret files of the Indian government.

In the investigations conducted over eight months, the report claimed that systematic cyber espionage was carried out from servers located in China that "compromised" government, business, academic and other computer network systems in India.

The report finds that Indian government related entities, both in India and throughout the world, had been thoroughly compromised.

These included computers at Indian embassies in Belgium, Serbia, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, the United States, Zimbabwe, and the High Commissions of India in Cyprus and the United Kingdom.

"These include documents from the Offices of the Dalai Lama and agencies of the Indian national security establishment," the report said.

"Data containing sensitive information on citizens of numerous third-party countries, as well as personal, financial, and business information, were also exfiltrated and recovered during the course of the investigation," it said.

"Recovery and analysis of exfiltrated data, including one document that appears to be encrypted diplomatic correspondence, two documents marked "SECRET", six as "RESTRICTED", and five as "CONFIDENTIAL". These documents are identified as belonging to the Indian government," it added.

 

China denies hacking Indian defence websites

Beijing, April 6: China has dismissed reports that Chinese hackers have broken into top secret files of the Indian Defence Ministry and embassies around the world, saying that it was firmly opposed to hacking and regards it as an international crime.

"We have been hearing frequently these kind of news and I do not know the purpose to stir up issues," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said, replying to questions about reports of hacking of sensitive Indian sites in the media on Tuesday.

"Some people spread some information regarding the so-called China hacking activities. On this issue our policy is very clear and we are firmly opposed to all kinds of hacking activities through internet," she said, adding "Hacking is an international crime and all nations should join hands to deal with hacking crimes.

A new report called ’Shadow in the Clouds’ by Canadian and American researchers based at the University of Toronto has said that a spy operation called ’Shadow Network’ based out of China has tapped into top secret files of the Indian government.

Major Indian missile and armament systems may have been compromised as Chinese hackers have reportedly broken into top secret files of the Indian Defence Ministry and embassies around the world.

Among the systems leaked out could be Shakti, the just introduced advanced artillery combat and control system of the Indian Army and the country’s new mobile missile defence system called the Iron Dome.

Jiang said China has already joined series of international and regional cooperation mechanisms including APEC- "we initiated relevant initiatives within ASEAN and SCO also". "We have noted the relevant cooperation to counter hacking activities".

The foreign ministry official said the issues have already been noted by the competent authorities, but the people "who are spreading such rumours have not given any formal representation with the competent authorities of China".

"I do not know the purpose of such media reports," Jiang said.

In the investigations conducted over eight months, the report by Canadian and American researchers claimed that systematic cyber espionage was carried out from servers located in China that "compromised" government, business, academic and other computer network systems in India.